So...uh...yeah...uhm...

A/N: Naruto Greek Deities and Rome don't belong to me

A/N 2: Incorrect use of Greek mythological figures

A/N 3: All flames will be used to sacrifice to Jashin

The Value of a Soul

Chapter 9: Strikes in the Unknown

Neji couldn't believe the unfairness of the situation. Those walls he had worked so hard to build were now crumbling to nothing, destroyed to molecular size by a mere youth, and one he didn't even like at that!

"Why?" he breathed, his voice in a default monotone. Naruto moved back slightly to a more comfortable distance. The blonde allowed his tan hand to slip down to the brunet's shoulder.

"Why what?" he asked, confused.

Neji could feel it. The dark life he had been living in was slowly but surely disappearing as that spark he so desperately wanted to diminish, began to blaze. His fists clenched, as did his jaw.

"Why would you do such a thing?" he forced out in between gritted teeth.

Naruto smiled. At least he wasn't pulling away. That was a start. The blonde's eyes closed, and he even giggled lightly.

"Haven't you been listening Neji?" he teased. "I'm doing it because I care. And I'm not taking no as an answer either," he added. Neji's lips curved downwards into a small frown.

"I've known you for so short a time," he stated. "I don't even know if I can trust you. I don't even trust my own father fully. To add to that, all the other times you're here, I only get angry," he informed.

Naruto's hand slipped back onto his, and the blonde opened his eyes in a soft smile. Neji couldn't help but find this blonde more intriguing. His actions, his motives...they were so different than what Neji had grown up with.

"It's your decision to trust me. If I forced you to, I'm untrustworthy. But I'm going to try my best to gain your trust. And if you're going to ask why, it's all the same. Because I care." Naruto sighed.

Neji's frown deepened. What made this youth so different? All that he had been with since...that...had never been able to gain his trust. What made the blonde think he of all people could?

"If you do end up gaining my trust, there really are gods. You're not asking for a hard thing to grant. You're asking for a miracle. Not even my sister has been able to do that. My trust isn't easily won," he informed. Naruto laughed a tinkling bubbly laugh that almost made Neji's lips curve upwards. Almost.

"Well then, I'll gain your trust," Naruto confirmed. Neji shrugged.

"Do as you will, Naruto. But you have not attempted an easy task. However, you have come furthur than anyone I know. I'll give you that." Naruto grinned, and pulled the prince onto his feet before wrapping his arms around the lissome brunet in a hug.

"All right! Thanks, Neji!" he exclaimed.

"Let go of me, or I'll take back everything I said," the prince hissed. Naruto's face flushed and he surrendered his grip on the porcelain-skinned brunet.

"Sorry about that Neji." The prince scowled.

"Look. I let you do this because there's something different about you. You do not know how much you've done just by standing there. And I'm in no mood to tell you, so you may do as you wish, but I do not promise you anything," the brunet stated.

"I understand," Naruto said, smiling happily. He had come this far!

But there was something else too. He realized that for quite a while now, he hadn't been doing this for Athena's sake. He was doing this for the prince's own sake, because when he had spoken to Neji, he wasn't lying.

He did care. He could see into the prince. He didn't delve into the memories of the brunet, as he wanted the prince himself to reveal those things, but he could see that there were things in the prince that he found terribly...endearing?

No that wasn't the word. And besides. It was only how many days? He was the prince's protector, nothing more. Yes. Let's leave it there.

"Oh, and Naruto?" the blue-eyed youth snapped back to the present.

"Yes?" Neji's default bland expression bored holes into his head.

"If you were dismissed from prison, what would you do?" Naruto tilted his head to one side.

"What sort of question is that? I mean it's not like I have anywhere to go. I'd stay here," he answered. Neji blinked slowly. "Oh, and if you're actually planning on releasing me, I flatly refuse to leave the prison if you don't release Kiba as well," he added.

"Kiba?" Neji asked. Naruto nodded.

"You know, the one you refer to as Inuzuka? The one in the same cell as me? If he doesn't go free, I don't go free, because his offence was smaller than mine," the blonde justified.

"Very well then. You are dismissed from prison, as is Inuzuka. But he will serve as a kitchen servant in place of a legionary," Neji replied. Naruto sighed. This was the best he could do at the moment. "As for you, you should get back to training."

"On one condition," Naruto said, a sparkle of humour in his eyes. "You come. After all, if I need to train, and I can't let you out of my sight, then you're coming. Besides, you aren't particularily busy, are you?"

Neji sighed. "You're right. Father is only really concerned about my fighting ability, but that is perfectly fine, and from what I know, and what I can't see, you won't brook any argument." Naruto grinned victoriously.

"All right!"

Neji turned towards the door, but Naruto turned towards the balcony.

Naruto bit his thumb and hoped Neji wouldn't mind blood on his railing as he placed his thumb on it. Almost at once, a large bird appeared on the balcony. It was flaming.

Err...Pyro, will you extinguish yourself? We're on Earth." The bird dipped it's head, and soon it was a rich shade of brown and still abnormally large.

"Neji! Over here! It's faster!"

The prince turned around, and for the first time ever since who knows how many years ago, there was the barest glint of shock in his eyes.

"Naruto, what. Is. That. Thing. Doing. On. My. Balcony."

The brunet heard the large bird croon in annoyance. Or at least he assumed it was annoyance. It certainly sounded like annoyance.

"It's not a 'thing', Neji! Meet my friend Pyro! I summoned him to take us to the coliseum," Naruto replied, beaming at the brunet. Neji swallowed his questions and walked up to the bird hesitantly. "He doesn't bite," Naruto added.

The blonde clambered onto the bird's back, patting it, gently. He motioned for Neji to come sit.

"He's really experienced at flying fast, but steady. No surprise thee either. He's had centuries practice," he added. Neji bit his lip and as gently as he could, walked onto the birds back. Naruto was probably teasing like he always did.

His breath hitched as the large bird of indeterminate species lifted, and flew off. Naruto was right. The creature was indeed fast albeit it was perfectly still on his back, save the fact that the wind whipped their hair behind them. A few seconds later, they landed in the coliseum, surprising the five males who were sparring.

"Oy! Get the fuck off me you goddamned bird!" a voice screeched from below them. Naruto laughed.

"He can't understand you, Hidan," Naruto responded. "Oh, and Pyro? Move over to the side will you? I think you've stepped on one of my friends."

The bird stepped over to it's right, and sat down,sloping one large wing to allow it's two passengers safe access to the ground. Naruto ruffled his head fondly once he jumped down.

"Thanks a bunch, Pyro. I'll send you back now."

He performed a few patterns before placing his hand on the birds head. It disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"Sorry for keeping you guys waiting," he apologised.

"The fuck, bitch! Your goddamned birdbrain broke my ribs!" Hidan yelled, still on the ground. The prince and the blonde exchanged a look.

"Here. Let me help," Naruto offered, strolling up to the albino. Placing his hands on the toned chest of the other, he sped up the process, and removed his hands in the span of two minutes. "There. Now next time, get out of they way, okay?" Naruto said, pulling him to his feet.

Training progressed, and Neji watched the proceedings with disguised interest. He had never actually seen the blonde fight yet, and found his style rather unique.

The blonde was lithe and graceful in his movements, and tried his best to never actually deliver blows to his opponents. In there rare occasion where he had to, his strikes delivered significant injuries on his opponent.

Naruto sensed the sand under his feet begin to move. Before it could get a grip on him, he leapt out of the way, landing, and immediately bending back as a large sword swung where his neck was a moment ago, only to jump over Kisame as the blue-skinned man was hit by a red-bladed scythe.

"Ow..." the sharklike gladiator complained as the three blades struck his midriff. Naruto smiled, and placed his hands on the injured torso, holding long enough for the organs to repair, and the wounds to close. Kisame would still have the scars though.

He pulled the gladiator out of the way, just as the ground beneath them detonated, before gracefully leaping away as the sand grabbed at him.

By then, he was looking behind him, which gave Itachi enough time to slam into him and knock him into the ground. The raven held a knife to his neck. Naruto grabbed the knife with his free hand, and wrenched it to one side, the sheer strength from it, ripping the knife from the raven's grasp, and embedding it in the wall opposite of them.

Neji watched under half-lidded eyes, biting back the urge to join in and challenge the blonde himself. After all, he wasn't quite clear with the youth, and there was still something in him that hated Naruto, even if the prince didn't know what it was.

He bit is lips until he tasted the warm tangy flavour of blood. His eyes narrowed as he watched. He felt angry at himself. How had he come to be so weak? He had revealed so much to that blonde, and he barely even knew who he was! No one had ever made Neji feel so vulnerable. He wanted to satisfy himself in seeing the blonde's blood flow by his hand, but he couldn't.

Neji internally screamed in frustration. What was it about Naruto that made him so different? He was confused. Very confused.

He gritted his teeth, and remained silent.

"Hey, Kiba!" Naruto called as he traipsed into the prison, Neji following wordlessly. The brunet looked up, and grinned. His grin immediately dropped into a scowl as he saw who was following the blonde.

"Hi Naruto," he greeted. Naruto beamed as the next words flew out of his mouth.

"You're free!" he exclaimed, breaking the cell bars. The prince stared expressionlessly at them.

"Naruto, you didn't have to break the bars," he informed. "It costs to have them repaired."

Kiba blinked in shock. His eyes travelled from the smiling blonde, to the prince, who was staring at him impassively.

"Wha-what? Naruto!" the brunet stammered. Naruto's lips dropped into a mock frown.

"You know, you're also free to stay in there if you want." Kiba frowned.

"Is this some sort of joke?" Neji gritted his teeth and hissed in annoyance.

"Look, Inuzuka, you can stay in your comfortable cell if that is what you wish. I strongly recommend you do not. However, you are stripped of your position as legionary, and are now serving as a scullery servant," the brunet informed, growling slightly at how soft he sounded.

"Sorry about that," Naruto whispered. "It was the best I could do."

A moment later, there was a tangle of limbs on the floor outside the cell as the dogboy tackled the blonde in a bone-crushing hug.

"By Zeus! You really can do miracles!" Kiba exclaimed. Naruto's face flushed as he saw their bodies tangled in a quite compromising position. His eyes averted to Lee, who was watching the scene, a blinding grin pasted on his face.

"Err...you're welcome Kiba but-mmmph!" Naruto was cut off by tan lips on his. A moment later, the grinning Inuzuka, separated. Naruto glared at him "What the fuck was that!" he yelled. Kiba blinked, his face turning temporarily surprised.

"Wow. I didn't know you swear." he stated. His face contorted back into a grin. "That was a thank you, idiot! I mean there wasn't much else I could do!" Naruto raised an eyebrow.

"You could have said thank you," he deadpanned. Kiba's face turned red, and he sheepishly got off the blonde.

"Oh yeah...erm...sorry about that...heh.." A moment later, he jumped onto the blonde again and squeezed him, giving him puppy-dog eyes. His bottom lip trembled. "Please don't take it the wrong way! I mean I just thought a thank-you wouldn't be adequate!" Naruto smiled.

"It's all right. But you know, you didn't really have to show me that way," he replied. The Inuzuka blushed.

"Actually..." Naruto groaned silently. "I think I might like you..." the brunet murmured. Naruto ruffled his hair, still forgetting at they were both in an awkward position.

"I don't hate you for it Kiba," he said quietly. The brunet perked up at this. "But I can't return it," he added. The dog-boy drooped. Naruto smiled. He planted a small peck on the Inuzuka's forhead before sliding out of his grip. "But we can still be friends, right?"

"Maybe..." Kiba answered. "But can I take you out sometime?" Naruto took a nervous step back.

"Uh, Kiba? Are you feeling all right?" The brunet burst into laughter.

"Hey! I was only joking!" he blurted. Naruto pulled him into a headlock and ran his fist over his head. "Hey! Quit that!"

Neji couldn't help but feel a pang at the scene in front of him. It was a feeling he didn't recognize. Now he was more confused than earlier. What was this? And why did it hurt?

Neji Neji Neji. Poor oblivious Neji. This is slow progress. And Kiba is unconsciously helpng Naruto even though he doesn't know it! I just hope he doesn't go too far. After all, this is a NejiNaru, not a KibaNaru.

-Jeya-